Mincer knife head

ABSTRACT

A mincer knife head comprises a shaft 1 carrying, consecutively arranged thereon, a support bushing 4, a group of main bushings (6, 7, 8), and a fixing member (27). Each main bushing (6, 7, 8) is mechanically associated with an appropriate knife (9, 10, 11) and each carries four balancing disks (12, 13, 14, 15; 16, 17, 18, 19; 20, 21, 22, 23), each made in the form of an eccentric.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to meat and meat products grindingarrangements, and more precisely to mincer knife heads.

PRIOR ART

The higher demands made on the meat and food industries, specificallythe need to expand the range of meat products, have given rise to morestringent requirements placed upon the design of mincers, particularlyon their knife heads.

Known in the art is a mincer knife head (cf., V. I. Ivanov et al. "NewCutting Devices for Mincers". A Review. "Mincer Knife and Knife Heads",p. 18. Moscow, 1986), comprising a shaft carrying, consecutivelyarranged thereon, a support bushing, a group of main bushings, eachmechanically associated with at least one knife and carrying at leastone balancing disk, and a fixing member. A minimum of three holes,equidistant from each other, are provided on the periphery of eachbalancing disk incoporated in said knife head, and the latteradditionally contains groups of pins with the number thereof equal tothat of the balancing disks, the number of pins in each group beinginferior to the number of the holes in the appropriate balancing disk.

However, the pins allow only discrete balancing of said knife head to beperformed, which affects balancing accuracy.

Moreover, the indispensable displacement of the pins in the holes of thebalancing disks results in quick destruction thereof, which is conduciveto a shorter service life of the knife head.

Furthermore, the presence of pins in said knife head involves a highermetal consumption.

Also, the constant radius of the knife rotation about the axis of theshaft does not allow the knife overhang to be adjusted, which affectsoperational reliability of the knife head.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention is aimed at providing a mincer knife head whose balancingdisks would permit continuous balancing, their shape would make itpossible to extend their service life and cut down metal consumption,and rotation of the knives would allow adjustment of the overhang.

This is accomplished by that in a mincer knife head comprising a shaftcarrying, consecutively arranged thereon, a support bushing, a group ofmain bushings, each mechanically associated with at least one knife andcarrying at least one balancing disk, and a fixing member, according tothe invention, the balancing disks are made in the form of eccentries.

It is expedient that in a mincer knife head with a plurality ofbalancing disks the latter have different thickness and eccentricity.

It is desirable that each main bushing be made in the form of aneccentric.

It is reasonable that each main bushing in a mincer knife head with twoknives be two-stepped, with the eccentricities of the steps facingopposite directions, and each carrying an appropriate knife.

It is also expedient that a mincer knife head include additionalbushings with the number thereof equal to that of the main bushings,made in the form of eccentrics, fitted on the shaft before eachappropriate main bushing, and each carrying an appropriate knife.

It is also desirable that in said knife head external surfaces of themain bushings and internal surfaces of the knives and the balancingdisks have teeth with the identical module thereof and a referencepoint.

It is also reasonable that in a mincer knife head external surfaces ofthe additional bushings and the internal surfaces of the knives haveteeth with the identical module thereof and a reference point.

The present invention permits continuous balancing, which adds to theaccuracy of balancing the mincer knife head.

Besides, the present invention makes it possible to extend the servicelife of the balancing disks and, consequently, that of the mincer knifehead.

Furthermore, the present invention permits of cutting down theconsumption of metal for the balancing disks and, accordingly, for themincer knife head.

Also, the present invention enables the knives to revolve with avariable rotation radius, which allows the overhang of the knives to beadjusted and, accordingly, operational reliability of the mincer knifehead to be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained with reference to specificembodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general view of a mincer knife head (longitudinal section),according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view along arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III--III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV--IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is unit B in FIG. 3 (enlarged);

FIG. 6 is a general view of a mincer knife head in FIG. 1 withtwo-stepped main bushings (longitudinal section), according to theinvention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII--VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII--VIII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX--IX in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view along arrow C in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a general view of a mincer knife head in FIG. 1 withadditional bushings (longitudinal section), according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII--XII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII--XIII in FIG.11.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A mincer knife head comprises a two-stepped shaft 1 (FIG. 1), whose onestep 2 with a smaller diameter is hexahedral and another step 3 with alarger diameter is cylindrical. The step 2 carries a support bushing 4contacting an end face 5 of the step 3 and three main bushings 6, 7, 8,each made in the form of an eccentric (hereinafter termed eccentric mainbushing 6, 7, 8 for clarity). Each bushing 6, 7, 8 carries, one afteranother, knives 9, 10, 11 respectively and four balancing disks 12, 13,14, 15 (on the bushing 6), 16, 17, 18, 19 (on the bushing 7) and 20, 21,22, 23 (on the bushing 8). The balancing disks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 are of different thickness and made in the formof eccentrics (hereinafter termed eccentric disks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 for clarity). Cutting edges 24, 25, 26 (FIGS.1, 2) of the knives 9, 10, 11 are arranged at an equal angle relative toone another. Located on the shaft 1 after the bushing 8 is a fixingmember 27, including a washer 28 and a nut 29, arranged one afteranother. External surfaces 30 (FIG. 3) of the main bushings 6, 7, 8,internal surfaces 31 of the knives 9, 10, 11 (FIG. 1) and internalsurfaces 32 (FIG. 4) of the balancing disks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23 (FIG. 1) have teeth with the identical module and areference point marked by digit "0" for the bushings 6, 7, 8 (FIG. 5)and by an arrow "↓" for the knives 9, 10, 11.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the design of amincer knife head is similar to that described with reference to FIG. 1,except that main bushings 33, 34, 35 (FIG. 6) are two-stepped, each step36, 37 having an eccentricity "e". The eccentricities "e" of the steops36 (FIG. 7) and 37 (FIG. 8) in each bushing 33, 34, 35 are facing theopposite directions. The step 36 of each bushing 33, 34, 35 carries onepair of knives 38, 39, 40 (FIG. 6). The step 37 carries another pair ofknives 41, 42, 43 and three balancing disks 44, 45, 46 (on the bushing33), 47, 48, 49 (on the bushing 34) and 50, 51, 52 (on the bushing 35),made in the form of eccentrics (hereinafter termed eccentric disks 44,45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 for clarity).

End faces 53 (FIG. 8) and 54 (FIG. 9) of the bushings 33, 34, 35 (FIG.6) show initial reference points marked by the digit "0" and by thearrow "↓" in the event of the knives 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 (FIG. 6), asdescribed hereinabove. Cutting edges 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 of theknives 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 (FIG. 10) are at an equal angle relativeto each other.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the designof a mincer knife head is similar to that described with reference toFIG. 1, except that longitudinal axes of main bushings 61, 62, 63 (FIG.11) coincide with a longitudinal axis 64 of the shaft 1 and each of themhas a toothed surface 65 (FIG. 12). Each bushing 61, 62, 63 (FIG. 11)carries four balancing disks 66, 67, 68, 69 (on the bushing 61), 70, 71,72, 73 (on the bushing 62) and 74, 75, 76, 77 (on the bushing 63), andeach has a toothed internal surface (no reference numeral). Thebalancing disks 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 (FIG. 11)are shaped as eccentrics (hereinafter termed eccentric disks 66, 67, 68,69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 for clarity). The shaft 1 carries,before each main bushing 61, 62, 63, additional bushings 78, 79, 80,each shaped as eccentric (hereinafter termed additional eccentricbushings 78, 79, 80 for clarity). External surfaces 81 (FIG. 13) of thebushings 78, 79, 80 are toothed. Each bushing 78, 79, 80 (FIG. 11)carries knives 82, 83, 84 respectively, whose internal surfaces 85 (FIG.13) have teeth with the module identical with that of the toothedsurface 8 of the bushings 78, 79, 80. The reference point for thebushings 78, 79, 80 is designated by the digit "0", and for the knives82, 83, 84 by the arrow "↓". Cutting edges 86 (FIGS. 11, 12, 13), 87, 88(FIG. 11) of the knives 82, 83, 84 (FIG. 11) are disposed in a mannersimilar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2.

Assembly of a mincer knife head shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 isperformed in the following sequence.

Initially, each main bushing 6, 7, 8 is balanced jointly with therespective knives 9, 10, 11 and four eccentric disks 12, 13, 14, 15 (forthe bushing 6), 16, 17, 18, 19 (for the bushing 7) and 20, 21, 22, 23(for the bushing 8).

In accordance with the invention, making use of different thicknessesand eccentricities of the disks 12, 13, 14, 15 (on the bushing 6), 16,17, 18, 19 (on the bushing 7) and 20, 21, 22, 23 (on the bushing 8),they are placed in such a position relative to the respective knives 9,10, 11 that would allow balance to be attained in a horizontal position.The balance is fixed by the internal toothed surfaces 31, 32 ofrespective knives 9, 10, 11 and disks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20, 21, 22, 23 and the external toothed surfaces 30 of the bushings 6,7, 8. Following this, each bushing 6, 7, 8 with the knives 9, 10, 11 andfour disks 12, 13, 14, 15; 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, 21, 22, 23 is fittedon the shaft 1 with the requisite angle of the edges 24, 25, 26 of therespective knives 9, 10, 11 in a manner whereat the bushing 6 and theknife 9 contact the support bushing 4. Thereupon, the washer 28 isproperly fitted, and the nut 29 of the fixing member 27 is tightened tothe preassigned effort.

Mincer operation necessitates periodic sharpening of the knives 9, 10,11, which results in a wider clearance between the cutting edge 24, 25,26 of the knives 9, 10, 11 respectively and the mincer body (omited inthe drawing). This, in turn, affects the quality of the products beingprocessed. To retain the requisite clearance, according to theinvention, it is necessary to change the overhang of the cutting edge24, 25, 26 of the knives 9, 10, 11 respectively. To this end, the fixingmember 27 and the suitable bushing 6, 7, 8 carrying the knife 9, 10, 11with the blunt cutting edge 24 is removed. The eccentricity of thebushing 6, 7, 8 makes it possible to extend the edge 24, 25, 26 of theknife 9, 10, 11 beyond the requisite size "R", after which the edge 24,25, 26 is sharpened to the size "R". Following this, balancing andassembly are performed in a manner described hereinabove. Eachsubsequent sharpening is effected in the above manner, the beginning ofreplacement of the knife 9, 10, 11 is reckoned from the digit "0" on thebushing 6, 7, 8 by counter-clockwise movement of the referencepoint--the arrow "↓"--on the knife 9, 10, 11 towards the increase of theeccentiricity up to 180°.

A mincer knife head shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 is assembled in amanner similar to that described hereinabove, except that the two-stepshape of the bushings 33, 34, 35 allows pair-wise installation of theknives 38 and 41, 39 and 42 and 40 and 43, which, accordingly, makes itpossible to reduce the number of the eccentric disks 44, 45, 46, 47, 48,49, 50, 51, 52 and thus to cut down metal consumption for the mincerknife head. The opposite eccentricities of the steps 36, 37 of eachbushing 33, 34, 35 facilitate balancing. Besides, the double number ofthe knives 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 cuts the time of processing theproducts and improves the quality thereof.

Assembly of a mincer knife head in accordance with FIGS. 11, 12, 13 isperformed in a manner similar to that described with reference to FIGS.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 except that balancing is done jointly by the main bushing61, 62, 63 and the respective additional bushing 78, 79, 80.

The present invention allows multiple reconditioning of the knife edges,which extends the service life of the mincer knife head.

Besides, the present invention makes it possible to improve operationalsafety of the mincer knife head.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention may be used to advantage in the meat and foodindustries.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mincer knife head comprising a shaft (1) havingan elongated axis, said shaft carrying, consecutively arranged thereonalong said axis, a support bushing (4), a plurality of main bushings (6,7, 8), and a fixing member (27), said main bushings being held in placebetween said support bushing and said fixing member, a least one knife(9, 10, 11) mounted on each of said main bushings, and at least onebalancing disk (12 . . . 23) mounted one each on each of said mainbushings, each of said balancing disks being eccentric with respect tothe elongated axis of said shaft.
 2. A knife head as in claim 1 whereinvarious ones of said disks have different thicknesses and differentdegrees of eccentricity from each other.
 3. A knife head as in claim 1wherein each of said main bushings is eccentric with respect to theelongated axis of said shaft.
 4. A knife head as in claim 3 wherein eachof said main bushings includes two adjacent portions (36, 37) along theelongated axis of said shaft, each of said portions being eccentric withrespect to said axis with the eccentricity of each of said portionsbeing in opposite directions, a knife (38, 39, 40) being mounted on oneof said portions (36) of each of said main bushings, and a knife (41,42, 43) and a balancing disk (44, 47, 50) being mounted on the other ofsaid portions (37) of each of said main bushings.
 5. A knife head as inclaim 3 including at least one additional bushing (78, 79, 80) mountedon said shaft adjacent to each of said main bushings (61, 62, 63), and aknife (82, 83, 84) mounted on each of said additional bushings.
 6. Aknife head as in claim 5 wherein each of said additional bushings has anexternal surface which is serrated, and each knife mounted on each ofsaid additional bushings has an internal surface which is serrated andwhich is in meshed engagement with the external surface of theadditional bushing on which it is mounted.
 7. A knife head as in claim 1wherein each of said main bushings has an external surface which isserrated, and each of said knives and each of said balancing disksmounted on said main bushings has an internal surface which is serratedand which is is meshed engagement with the external surface of the mainbushings on which said knives and balancing disks are mounted.